Josh Norman became the third Coastal Carolina football player selected in the NFL Draft when he went to the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round. Norman was selected in the 5th round eight picks in, the #143 overall selection. Norman watched day three of the draft at Red Robin in Myrtle Beach with his father and brothers.
Norman spent Thursday and Friday in New York City and was part of the pre-draft festivities and arrived in Myrtle Beach on Saturday morning. He was hoping to be a day two selection and admitted mixed emotions when his name was not called in the fourth round.
"I'm home. A Carolina boy (my whole life), this is where I'm supposed to be," Norman said right after getting drafted. Any time you get a chance to live your lifelong dream, it's a blessing. It doesn't matter where you fall in the draft, you live out your lifelong dream."
Josh Norman Highlight Reel
Camp Bennett feature: Josh Norman
Norman joins Tyler Thigpen (2007 - 7th round) and Jerome Simpson (2008 - 2nd round) as the Chanticleers drafted in the NFL. When Norman takes the field for Carolina, he will become the 6th former CCU player to play in an NFL game. Norman will be reunited with former Coastal teammate Mike Tolbert, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.
Norman was a three time All-Big South selection finishing with 13 career interceptions for the Chanticleers as well as blocking four kicks. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in FCS after 62 tackles and two interceptions in his senior season. The 6 foot 3, 203 pounder will join a Panthers secondary that includes Chris Gamble, former Gamecock Captain Munnerlyn, Brandon Hogan and Darius Butler.
